Placer-mining apparatus



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

. R. 0.. ROAGH. PLACER MINING APPARATUS.

Patented Jan. '7, 1896.

lnveni or:

11.6 flack ARDREW B GRAHAM.PHOTO UD1DAWASkIN GTO'LU C4 (No Model.) 2Sheets-Sheet 2,

R. O. ROAOH. PLAGBR MINING APPARATUS.

Patented Jan Ml DREW Ev GGMMM PHOTOWQWASHING'WN DC UNITED STATES ROBERTC. ROAOH, OF IIUTCIIINSON,

PATENT EEicE.

KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF 'llVO-THIRDS TO FRANK L. FONDA, OF SAME PLACE, ANDSAMUEL SACKET, OF

MARION, KANSAS.

PLACER-MlNlNG APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,856, dated January7, 1896.

A li ati fil d April 5, 1895. Serial No. 544,578. (No model) To (tZZwhont it nuty concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT C. ROACH, of Hutchinson, Reno county, Kansas,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Placer-Minin gApparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart thereof.

My invention relates to placer-mining devices particularly adapted towork in connection with streams or rivers having a deep bed of(llllCkSZtllCl, below which lie sand and gravel deposits containing therich placergold which is to be extracted, and the object is to produce apump which will sink quickly and easily through said uicksand and willelevate in a continuous stream the deposits of sand and gravel richlyendowed with placergold, small gold pebbles, &c.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the following description,taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novelfeatures thereof will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the said drawings, Figure 1 represents in vertical sectiona double-hull craft or catamaran provided with a miningpump embodying myinvention and showing the same after ithas penetrated through thequicksand to the bed of the river which contains gold. 2 is a front Viewof the pump. Figs. 3, 3, and 3 representa vertical section, on anenlarged scale, of the pump proper detached from the derrick, the upperportion, Fig. 3, of said figure being turned at right angles to theposition of the pump as shown in Fig. .2, so as to more clearlyillustrate the construction. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line a;as of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional perspcctir e view of a portion ofthe outer tube or conduit forming the lower end of the pump providedwith a 'alve-controlled opening. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view toshow the hearing at the lower end of the shaft. Fig. '7 is an invertedor bottom plan view of the spider and the outer tube or conduit to whichsaid spider is attached. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the pump atsome distance from its lower end. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section takenon the line 3/ y of Fig. 1, and Fig. 10 is a detail view of the slidingtension device hereinafter described.

In the said drawings, 1 designates a double-hull craft or catamaran,which is decked over in the customary manner, as at 2, and is providedwith a cupola 3, bifurcated in its front end, as shown at a. \Vhen inits operative position, a derrick 5 extends vertically through thebifurcation of said cupola and has its lower end contiguous to thesurface of the water between the hulls of the craft or catamaran. Saidderrick consists of a pair of parallel timbers 6, connected to gether attheir upper ends by a cross-bar 7, and also joined at a suitabledistance from their lower ends by the stationary guide 8, which is bentcentrally to form the circular ring or band 9. A second guide 10consists of a pair of bars, which are curved at their middle to formpractically a band or ring 11, and at their opposite ends to form forks12, which embrace snugly and slidingly the inner and front and rearsides of the timbers 6. The bars forming the guide 10 are connectedfirmly together by means of bolts 13 and nuts 1%. This guide 10 islocated, when the pump is not in operation, contiguous to the upper endof said derrick, and is adapted to slide downward thereon as the pump isput in operation, as hereinafter more particularly referred to.

About its middle the derrick is provided with the laterally-projectingtrunnions 15, which engage permanent bearings 15, carried by the cupolaat opposite sides of the bifurcation 4 therein. A guide 16 is composedof a centrally-located band or ring 17, provided withdiametrically-opposite and laterally-projectin g trunnions 18, whichpivotally engage apertures in bearing-lugs projecting inwardly from thesleeves 19, embracing loosely and slidingl y the inner and front andrear sides of the timbers (i of the derrick. lVhen the pump hereinafterdescribed is not in operation these sliding sleeves 19 are engaged byremovable pins 19, which also engage registering apertures in the saidtimbers, so that when necessary or desirable the derrick may bepivotally operated and carry the pump with it. If necessary for anyreason,

cross-bar 22, provided with a central bearing aperture 23.

24 designates a V-shaped spider-casting, and the arms 25 of the same arebeveled sharply to apoint, preferably above as well as below, as shownclearly in Fig. 7, so as to penetrate more easily and quickly throughthe'sand when forceddownward or when the pump is being elevated. -Attheir upper ends the arms 25 terminate in vertically-projecting lugs 26,so as to form externally and internally of said lugs the shoulders 27and28, respectively. Said lugs are externally embraced bythe lower end ofthe tube or conduit 20, and theexternal shoulders 27 of said lugs are incontact with the lower end of said tube or conduit. Set-screws 29 ortheir equivalent are employed to clamp said tube or conduit and saidspider firmly yet detachably together. Connecting the arms of the saidspider is the horizontal cross-bar 30, which is secured by means ofbolts 31, and said cross-bar is provided in the center with verticalbearingapertures Arranged concentrically within the tube or conduit 20is the channel-tube 33, which is externally threaded at its upper endand engages the internal threads of the collar or nut 21 below itscross-bar. Said tube at its lower end is internally threaded to engagethe external threads of the short nipple 33, which rests at its lowerend upon the shoulders 23 of and between the lugs 26 of the spider. Thechannel-tube 33 is provided with this detachable nipple 33 because itwill quickly wear out, and may be replaced easily, quickly and cheaply,and not necessitate the removal of the entire chan nel-tube. Extendin gvertically through the passage formed between the outer and inner tubes20 and 33, respectively, are a number of pipes or tubes 34. These pipesor tubes extend through perforations 35 in the collar or nut 21, and twoof them, preferably, have their lower ends communicating with verticalpassages 36, which extend down through the lugs 26 and through the upperportion of the arms of the spider 24 for a purpose which is hereinafterexplained. The lower end of the remaining pipes will be stayed or bracedin any suitable manner. The channel of the pump is continued upward bythe tube 37, which is of the same diameter as the tube 33 and isthreaded externally at its lower end and engages in.- ternal threads ofthe collar or nut 21 above its cross-bar. The upper end of said tube 37is externally threaded and is embraced by aninternally-threaded collar38, upon which is secured by bolts and nuts 39 the cap 40, which closesthe upper end of the tube, and formed integral with said cap,preferably, is an arch consisting of upwardly-converging arms 41, whichform a junction and are provided centrally with a bearing-aperture 42 invertical alignment with the bearing-apertures 23 and 32 of the'collar ornut 21 and the bar 30, respectively, and extending vertically throughthe bearing-apertures 23 and 42 is the shaft 43, which is diametricallydiminished and concaved at its lower end to form a spindle which engagesthe bearing-aperture 32 of the bar 30 and the sharpened lower end, asshown at 44, to prevent sand working in and cutting or grinding out thebearing as much as possible. Mounted upon the shaft in the plane of thelower end of the nipple of the channel-tube 33 is the spiral wheel orknife, which is of steel or other suitable material and has itssharpened ends 45 and 46 extending parallel at a suitable angle and atthe.

same distance apart, so as to form the inclined passage 47, throughwhich the sand cut by the sharpened lower end 45 must pass before it canbe further elevated by the upwardlyextending end 46. This spiral wheelor knife is secured detachably upon the shaft; by means of a set-screw48 or its equivalent extending through its hub and impinging upon theshaft 43. Arranged at intervals above said spiral wheel or knife,preferably throughout the entire length of the channel-tube 33 andextending radially in different directions, are a number of elevatingdevices. These devices comprise the hub portions 49, which are securedrigidly by set-screws upon the shaft, and the blades or arms 50. Theseblades or arms are inclined laterally in the direction of rotation inthe manner of a wind-wheel, so as to exert an elevating pressure uponthe material being elevated, and also droop from their inner to theirouter ends, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, to force or push the materialoutwardly at the same time. This is done principally to distribute thepressure equally upon all sides of the channel-tube, and thereby tendsto direct the pump vertically downward and to relieve the derrickentirely of lateral strain when the pump is in operationthat is, whendrilling its way down through the quicksand bed of a stream or river.Keyed or otherwise rigidly secured upon the upper end of the shaft abovethe arched cap is a friction-pulley 51, and embracing said pulley at itsopposite sides and mounted loosely upon the shaft are bars 52, whichextend parallel and at their front ends are forked, as shown at 53. Thearms of said forks are connected by rods 54, and rotatably mounted uponthe rods are idlers upon the lower rod and 56 upon the upper rod. Anelliptical band or ring 57 provides a brace for said bars by connectingthem at a suitable distance from their outer end,and also serves as aguide whereby to prevent the accidental disconnection with the pulley 51IIO of the flexible connection hereinafter referred to. In addition tothe pipes 34E, through which water, oil, air or steam, or all of themtogether, may be forced or allowed to pass, the outer tube 20 is alsoprovided at intervals throughout its length with openings 58, andoperating in guide-cleats 59, arranged vertically at opposite sides ofsaid openings, are the slide-valves 60, by which said openings arecontrolled, and extending vertically upward from said slitlewalves arethe rods 61, which maybe suitably guided in any suitable manner, andprovided at their upper ends with handles 1'32, so that they may beoperated by hand, or they may be operated otherwise than by manualpower: At a suitable point in its length, preferably near its upper end,the upper tube 37 is formed with a disohargespout 63.

In the operation of this pump in deep rivers having deep beds ofuicksand it may come to pass that the openings 58, which are normallyuncovered, may lie possibly below the level of the quicksand, in whichcase they must or should be closed by properly operating theslide-valves 60, and as it will be practic-ally impossible to elevatethe sand and gravel containing the placer-gold, gold pebbles, &c., atthe bottom of said bed without the assistance of water or other liquidto form a mulch or slush of the sand, I may couple to the upper ends ofthe tubes 3% flexible or other suitable hose or, which will be keptsubmerged in any suitable manner, so that water may pass down throughthe same and mingle with the sand as it is cut by the spiral wheel orknife, or said pipes may be connected with any suitable pump by whichwater may be forced through the same. When the derrick is elevated withthe pump to its vertical position, it is secured thereat by guyropes 65,or in any other suitable manner.

A flexible connection 66, which preferably is a cable, as illustrated,engages the frictionpulley and connects with an engine or other suitablemotive power (not shown) located in the craft or catamaran. \Vhen thepump is about to be lowered and put in operation, said cable engages thepulleys 55, as shown clearly in dotted lines, Fig. 1, and in Figs. 2 and3. When in this position it will be noticed that the upper end of thepump is a suitable distance above the engine, and that the cable extendscouvergently upward with the pump. It will be apparent, therefore, asthe pump moves downward that it will be necessary to tension the cable,and that after it has passed a certain point in its descent, which pointis represented by the plane of the tension, the friction. of the cablewill be transferred from the lower idlers 55 to the upper idlers 56, asshown clearly in full lines, Fig. 1..

While I have shown a particular form of sliding tension, which ishereinafter described, it is to be understood distinctly that I do notintend to confine myself to a tension of any particular construction.The tension device herein shown comprises an upper set of guide-pulleys67 and a lower set of guidepulleys 68, and mounted upon the same shaftas the guide-pulleys G7, and between the same is a grooved roller 69,and mounted upon the same shaft as the guide-pulleys 68 is a secondgrooved roller 69, which is vertically be low the first mentionedroller. Said grooved pulleys and rollers and their shafts are mounted ina suitable frame 70, and extendin g through the same are a pair oftracks or rails 71. Upon the upper track or rail the guide roller 69rests, and against the lower side of the other track or rail the lowerroller 69 bears, so that it will be impossible for the sliding tensionto become derailed. Mounted at the outer end of said guide-rails isaguidepulley 72, which is engaged by a cable '73, attached at one end tothe frame of said tension device, and at its opposite end carrying aweight Tel. This pulley and the outer end of the guide rails or tracksare supported by a suitable tower or framework 75,and the inner ends bya suitable tower or framework 7 6, as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 9.

In operation, after the derrick is braced or stayed in the positionshown in Fig. 1, the pump is allowed to slip down until it touches thesand-bed of the river, the pins 19, of course, being removed, so thatthe sliding guide 16 and the sliding guide 10 may move freely down uponthe track. The gates or valves of the tube 20 are now opened, and thewater rushes down the conduit or chamber between said tube and thechannel-tube 23 to the bottom. The engine is now started, and the poweris transmitted through the cable 66 or its equivalent, and the shaftrotated,whicl1 causes the spiral cutting-wheel or knife to begin to workits way down through the sand and sink the pump-casing, also the samesliding down upon the derrick. At the same time the mulch or slush ofsand and water thus displaced at the bottom is forced upward through thechanneltube 33 and the tube 37 by reason of said spiral wheel or knifeand the peculiar disposition of the lifting devices of the shaft untilit comes to the outlet or discharge-opening 63, through which it runs toan amalgam (not shown) of customary construction, which extracts orseparates the gold from the water, sand, gravel, (to. In case it isdifficult for the power employed to force the pump downward, I forcewater, air or steam down through certain of the tubes and the openings36 of the spider communicating with said tubes, to dislodge the gravelor sand contiguous to said openings, that the spider may more easily andquickly make its way downward. I also intend to force oil through saidpipes, in order that the mulch or slush may be rendered more susceptibleto the action of the cutting-wheel or knife and also to lubricate to acertain extent the journal at the lower end of the shaft. It is manifestthat as the pump descends the weight 7 i draws the tension deviceoutwardly upon the guide tracks or rails 71 until the plane of saidtension device is reached by the descending idlers at the upper end ofthe pump. Immediately said plane is reached the continued descent of thepump causes the tension device to be moved inwardly again and the weightto be elevated. be seen that I have produced a device whichautomatically tensions the cable or powertransmitting device, no matterwhere the pump stands in the derrick.

A decided advantage of this machine is that it can be run down torock-bottom of rivers, and the rich sand and gravel worked, and whendesiring to move to work a different part of the bed the pump can belifted quickly and easily by reversing the engine to clear thechannel-tube of loose sand, and to withdraw and raise it clear of thebed by the reverse action of the spiral cutting-wheel or knife, and thenusing the ordinary nigger-head hoist (not sh own) to elevate the pump tothe proper position. The pins 19 are then inserted in the registeringapertures of the guide-sleeves 19 and the timber 6, and the boat movedas required. The derrick and the pump are, pivoted preferably in thecenter of the craft, so that when not in use they can be moved to thehorizontal positionindicated by dotted lines, Fig. 1, to permit thecraftto pass under bridges and low places when passing from place toplace and the pump is pivoted independently of the derrick, also, sothat it can be more easily handled in case repairs are necessary, ashereinbefore stated. The derrick and the pump can be braced in theirhorizontal positions in any suitable or preferred manner, so that itsheavy end, which is that end which projects over the bifurcated portionof the derrick, may not overbalance the lighter end and swing down toits vertical position by accident. A still f urtlier object of thisinvention is that in case the water-supply is scant and the craft ismoved on skids, as is often neces sary in western streams and riverswhich are flooded in winter and contain very little water in the summer,the water can be used over and over again with a very small addition offresh water, as the sand and gravel can be:

separated from the .water after it has passed over the amalgams andpermitted to return again into the discharge-tube 20 by way of the smalltubes 34, or in any other suitable manner.

While I have shown the device as mounted upon a portable craft or boat,it is to be understood, of course,that it may be mounted upon anysuitable stationary platform as well, if required. It is to beunderstood, also, that this structure maybe of any suitable material orcombinations of materials desired, and that changes in the form,arrangement and detail construction of parts and the substitution forthe devices shown of equivalents maybe made without departing from theessential spirit or It will thus,

sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A placer-mining apparatus, comprising a pump, consisting of an outertube, and an inner tube which continues upward above the outer tube andis provided at a suitable point with a discharge nozzle, a pointed orV-shaped spider secured to the lower end of said tubes,

and a shaft extending axially through the inner tube, a spiralcutting-wheel or knife mounted upon said shaft near its lower end, andmeans to operate said shaft, substantially as set forth.

2. A placer-mining apparatus, comprising a pump, consisting of an outertube, and an inner tube which continues upward above the outer tube andis provided at a suitable point with a discharge nozzle, a pointed orV-shaped spider secured to the lower end of said tubes, a shaftextending axially through the inner tube, a spiral cutting-wheel orknife mounted upon said shaft near its lower end, radial lifting-devicesalso carried by said shaft, and means to operate said shaft,substantially as set forth.

3. A placermining apparatus, comprising a suitable platform or supportlocated above a stream of water, a guide-derrick carried thereby, a pumpprovided with sliding guides which engage said guide-derrick; said pumpconsisting of a channel-tube, a second tube inclosing the lower portionof the channeltube, a pointed or V-shaped spider detachably carried atthe lower ends of the said tubes, and a shaft suitably journaled axiallyof said channel-tube, and provided with a spiral cutting-wheel or knife,which according to its direction of rotation when operatively engaged inthe sand, causes the pump proper to slide up or down upon saidguide-derrick, substantially as set forth.

4. A placer-mining apparatus, comprising a suitable platform or supportlocated above a stream of water, a guide-derrick carried thereby, a pumpprovided with sliding guides which engage said guidederrick; said pumpconsisting of a channel-tube, a second tube inclosing the lower portionof the channeltube, a pointed or V-shaped spider detachably carried atthe lower ends of the said tubes, a shaft suitably journaled axially ofsaid channel-tube, and provided with a spiral cutting-wheel or knife,which according to its direction of rotation when operatively engaged inthe sand, causes the pump proper to slide up or down upon saidguidederrick, a pulley mounted upon the upper end of said shaft, aflexible connection between said pulley and a suitable motive power suchas an engine, and a sliding tension-device engaging said flexibleconnection so as to always maintain it at the required tension,substantially as set forth.

A placer-mining apparatus, comprising a suitable platform or supportlocated above a stream of water, a guide-derrick carried thereby, a pumpprovided with sliding guides which engage said guide-derrick; said pumpconsisting of a channeltube, a second tube inclosing the lower portionof the channeltube, a pointed orV-shaped spider detachably carried atthe lower ends of the said tubes, a shaft suitably journaled axially ofsaid channel-tube, and provided with a spiral cutting-wheel or knife,which according to its direction of rotation when operatively engaged inthe sand causes the pump proper to slide up or down upon saidguide-derrick, a pulley mounted upon the upper end of said shaft, aflexible connection between said pulley and a suitable motive power,such as an engine, guide-pulleys carried by the pump above and below thebelt-pulley, and a sliding tension-device engaging said flexibleconnection so as to always maintain it at the required tension,substantially as set forth.

A placer-mining apparatus, comprising a derrick mounted upon a suitableplatform, and braced or stayed in its vertical position in any suitablemanner, a pump comprising a channel-tube provided with a dischargenozzlea suitable distance from its upper end, a second tube concentricallysurrounding the lower portion of the channel-tube, a pointed or V-shapedspider detachably carried at the lower ends of said tubes, a bearing-capclosing the upper end of the channel-tube, a shaft journaled at itsupper and lower ends in said bearing-cap and the bar carried by thespider, and provided with a spiral cutting-wheel or knife, a slidingguide carried by the upper portion of the channel-tube and embracing thevertical side-timbers of the derrick, a slidin g guide embracing saidchannel-tube a suitable distance below the first-mentioned guide, andconsisting of a pair of sleeves which our brace slidingly the verticalside-timbers of the derrick, and a middle portion carried by thechanneLtubc and pivotally engaging the said guide-sleeves, substantiallyas set forth.

7. A placer-mining apparatus, comprising a channel-tube formed in twosections, and a washer or nut connecting said sections in longitudinalalignment with each other, and provided with a cross-bar having acentral bearing-aperture, a detachable nipple carried at the lower endof said channel-tube, an outer tube externally embracing and secured tosaid nut and surrounding concentrically the lower portion of saidchannel-tube, apointed or V- shaped spider detachably carried at thelower end of said tubes and provided with vertical apertures, a seriesof tubes extending vertically in the conduit or space between the outerand inner tubes and projecting at their upper ends through the saidcollar or nut; certain of said tubes also engaging at their lower endswith vertical passages of the spider, a bearingcap at the upper end ofthe upper section of the channel-tube, a shaft extending verticallythrough said channel-tube and journaled in said bearing-cap, the crossbar of said collar or nut, and in a bar carried by the spider, a spiralcuttin g-wheel or knife carried by said shaft, and a series of armscarried by said shaft and inclined from their inner to their outer endsand also downwardly and forwardly, substantially as set forth.

8. A placer-mining apparatus, comprising a channel-tube formed in twosections, and a washer or nut connecting said sections in longitudinalalignment with each other, and provided with a cross-bar having acentral bearing aperture, a detachable nipple carried at the lower endof said channel-tube, an outer tube externally embracing and secured tosaid nut and surrounding concentrically the lower portion of saidchannel-tube, and provided with a series of openings, valves controllingsaid openings, a pointed or V-shaped spider detachably carried at thelower end of said tubes and provided with vertical apertures and with acrossbar, a series of tubes extending vertically in the conduit or spacebetween the outer and inner tubes and projecting at their upper endsthrough the said collar or nut; certain of said tubes also communicatingat their lower ends with the vertical apertures of the spider, abearing-cap at the upper end of the upper section of the channel-tube, ashaft extending vertically through said channel-tube and journaled insaid bearing-cap, the cross-bar of said collar or nut, and in the barcarried by the spider, a spiral cutting-wheel or knife carried by saidshaft, and a series of arms carried by said shaft and inclined fromtheir inner to their outer ends and also downwardly and forwardly,substantially as set forth.

9. A placer-mining apparatus, comprising a channel-tube formed in twosections, and a washer or nut connecting said sections in longitudinalalignment with each other, and provided with a cross-bar having acentral bearin g-aperturc, a detachable nipple carried at the lower endof said channel-tube, an outer tube externally embracing and secured tosaid nut and surrounding concentrically the lower portion of saidchannel-tube, and provided with a series of openings, valves controllingsaid openings, a spider detachably carried at the lower end of saidtubes, a cross-bar carried by said spider, a bearing-cap mounted uponthe upper end of said channeltube, a shaft extending vertically throughsaid channel-tube and journ aled in said bearing-cap, said cross-bar ofthe collar or nut and the crossbar of the spider, a spiral cutting-Wheelor knife mounted upon said shaft contiguous to its lower end, and aseries of elevating-devices also carried by said shaft, comprising armswhich inc-line laterally and also downwardly from the shaft outward,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. A placer-mining apparatus, comprising a channel tube havingits lowerend open, and provided with a discharge nozzle, a rotating ICC shaftextending axially thereof and previded i with a rotaryeutting andelevating device at itsiewer'end, a 'iube, surrounding said chzm- Vneitube below its discharge-nozzle, provided with series ofvalve-controlled openings,

enci e pointedspider-frame"see-ureato the lower ends of said tubes,substantially as set 11. A placer-mining apparatus, comprising ederrieksuitably mounted, a pump longi tudinelly adjustable therein comprisingetubular casinge pointed spiaier frame carried thereby, a shaftextendingexially of the: eas wing andprevided with arotery cutting andelevating devise, and devices to discharge 1 luhrieating meterial at thelower end of *the casing, substantially asset forth.

12 Apleeenmining apparatus, comprising, 7 a derriek suitably mounted; epump longL 'tudinaily edjustable thevein, comprising 2 keep. theconnection at :the substantially as set forth. s I e In testimonywhereof I affix my signature "tubular easing-having anopen lower end and1a discharge-nozzle, a shaft extemiing; iShGI'G*' through and providedat'its iewer end with a rotary cutting and elevating device, a pulleyup0n-theupper endsof said shaft, guidepuk ieys supported fromthe shaft;a flexible 0011-,

neetien bBil-WGQII said-,first mentiened pull the other a'ecordin'gvtetheposition offohe pump; and a sliding device teautomatiealiy in thepresence of two witnesses.

Witnesses and a suitable motive power, and extending between saidguieepulleys to engage one or 7 preper tensien, I

ROBERT C. Remit.

